Our Whys
- Why do we clap our hands?
The act of clapping our hands is a form of praise which is mentioned frequently in the scriptures:
“O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Psalms 47:1
“For ye shall go out with joy, and led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12
- Why do we lift our hands?
The act of lifting our hands is a form of praising the Lord. More than fifty times in the Psalms the word “Towsay” or “Yadah” is translated “praise” where in actuality the word means to extend the hands in praise.
“Thus will I bless Thee while I live, I will lift my hands in Thy name” Psalms 63:4
Another scripture that mentions praise:
“I will therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8
- Why do we praise the Lord out loud?
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:1-2
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying. ‘Alleluia; Salvation and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God;”…And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.’” Revelation 19:1 and 6
- Why do we sing and pray in tongues and in English?
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the understanding also.”
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
“I would that ye all spoke with tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:5
- Why do we sing which such vigor and vitality?
“And be not drunk with wine wherin is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5: 18-19
- Why do we prophecy and how is it used?
Prophecy is a supernatural utterance from God in an understood or known tongue.
“But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
- Why do we have speaking with tongues and interpretations of those tongues in the church?
Various kinds of tongues are a supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in a language that was never learned by the speaker nor is it understood by the speaker.
The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural showing forth by the Holy Spirit of the meaning of an utterance in other tongues.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit of all…to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”
1 Corinthians 12: 7 & 10
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak, one at the time, and someone should interpret.” 1 Corinthians 14: 27
- Why are musical instruments a part of the worship service?
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the timbrel and dance. Praise Him with the stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals.” Psalm 150: 3-5
- Why does the whole church pray at once for specific needs?
“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices with one accord and said, ’Lord, Thou art God, which has made heaven and earth’…” Acts
- Why do we pray for the sick and anoint with oil?
“If any of you is sick? You should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned he will be forgiven.” James 5:14, 15
- Why do we practice laying on of hands?
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In my Name they shall …lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Mark
“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:6
- Why do we dance before the Lord?
“Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and the harp.” Psalm 149:3
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:4